Cocaine ring busted on NSW south coast

A MIDNIGHT mission to intercept a yacht off the NSW coast has resulted in the biggest cocaine bust in Australian history.

A COVERT midnight mission to intercept of a yacht off the South Coast has resulted in the biggest cocaine bust in Australian history.

Authorities seized 1.4 tonnes of the drug on a New Zealand yacht as it approached the state’s south coast.

The drugs have a street value of $312 million — equivalent to 1.4 million hits to users.

The Elakha yacht received the load from a “mother ship” in the South Pacific before its two crewmen headed for Australia, the Australian Federal Police allege.

The yacht Elakha was intercepted off the NSW coast on Thursday with 1.4 tonnes of cocaine allegedly found on-board. Picture: John Fotiadis

But just after midnight Thursday the Navy’s HMAS Bathurst intercepted the vessel 370km east of Sydney, arresting a 63-year-old New Zealand national and a joint Swiss-Fiji citizen, 54, who were on board.

Both men face Central court today and another three Sydney men appeared in court in Nowra on Friday. They are aged between 32 and 66 years old.

A suspect is led away by Australian Federal Police officers after the record haul was intercepted.

The AFP will allege two smaller boats were due to leave the south coast to transfer the load from the Elakha before the plan was foiled by the two-and-a-half year investigation by the AFP, Australian Border Force, Navy and New Zealand Customs known as Operation Armour.

Minister for Justice Michael Keenan called it a “historic day in Australian law enforcement”.

“We have busted the largest seizure of cocaine in Australian history,” Mr Keenan said.

“This is a hammer blow for the organised criminals who peddle in drugs.”

Authorities say it’s one of the biggest hauls of the drug in recent times. Picture: AFP

1.4 tonnes of cocaine was sezied during the raid.

He said international drug syndicates were targeting Australia because of its booming, lucrative drug market.

“We pay an enormous price, more than any equivalent market in the world,” he said.

“A kilogram of cocaine in the US would be worth AU$26,000, here it can sell for up to $240,000.

“So you can see why this acts as a honey pot effect for organised criminals from all around the world.”

The investigation began after a tip from New Zealand authorities in August 2014.

“Our officers based in Brisbane have been doggedly pursuing this matter since 2014. The interception of this huge volume of drugs and the charging of these six men is a testament to the officer’s drive and determination,” AFP acting Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said.

The two crewmen and three others have been charged with conspiracy to import commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Australian Border Force Deputy Commissioner, Michael Outram and Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan address the media following the major bust.

A sixth man has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the operation.

The Elakha, owned by one of the men arrested, is based in the harbourside city of Tauranga on New Zealand’s North Island.

Police do not want to discuss the “mother ship” or its origins while their investigations continue but said the men in the group knew each other “for decades”.

The drugs originated in South America.